Distinct subcortical and cortical functional gradient dysfunction in schizophrenia and the treatment effects after antipsychotics

By characterizing the connectome gradient changes of subcortex and cortex in drug-naive first-episode schizophrenia and the treatment effect after antipsychotics, we found that the distinct fundamental functional segregation of subcortex and functional integration in cortex in patients at baseline when compared to healthy controls, and the longitudinal analyses indicated that the treatment would normalize the altered gradients. The improved subcortical gradient changes were associated with significant improvement of symptoms. This study provided the new perspective on the abnormal subcortical and cortical hierarchy organization in schizophrenia and its longitudinal subcortical gradient changes could be sensitive to reflect the antipsychotic treatment effect.